21 September 2007

WFPhas welcomed a critical contribution from the Republic of Korea for WFP food assistance for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR).

WFP has welcomed a critical contribution from the Republic of Korea for WFP food assistance for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR).

The US$100,000 contribution, the first by the Republic of Korea for WFP operations in Laos, will provide food assistance to villages in areas experiencing seasonal rice shortages lasting from three to seven months each year.

Christa Räder, Country Representative for WFP Laos welcomed the donation from the Republic of Korea and thanked the Ambassador for Korea, Park Jae-Hyun, for the Korean Government’s dedication to the needy people in Laos.

Food shortages

“I hope this contribution will help to alleviate food shortages in the most vulnerable areas of Laos and contribute to a reduction of poverty,” said Ambassador Jae-Hyun. “The Korean Government will hopefully seek to lend further support to Laos in the future.”

“This donation comes at a critical time, when many people in rural Laos are running out of food supplies as they wait for the next rice harvest,” added Räder.

The Korean contribution supports a WFP initiative that distributes rice rations of 15kg per person, per month for a period of two months to villages in targeted districts, helping prevent short-term hunger and allowing villagers to focus on pursuing alternative livelihoods.

Chronic malnutrition

Preventing short-term hunger is particularly important for children, especially in rural areas where 50 percent of children aged under five suffer from chronic malnutrition.

WFP is active in the key ex-opium districts in the north and northeastern provinces of Laos where 220 villages located in some of the poorest districts will receive assistance.

With the Korean contribution, WFP hopes to procure 150 metric tonnes of rice which is expected to reach over 5,000 people.

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